FECON OFFICIALLY OPERATES TBM “TAO BAO”, ACCELERATING TUNNELING PROGRESS FOR METRO LINE 3 PROJECT – HANOI

On February 3, 2025, FECON Joint Stock Company, in collaboration with the Hanoi Metropolitan Railway Management Board (MRB) and the Hyundai Ghella Joint Venture (HGU), officially launched the second Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) named "Tao Bao" for the underground section of Hanoi city pilot urban railway project, Nhon - Hanoi station section (Metro Line 3).

Previously, the project’s first TBM, named "Than Toc," started drilling the tunnel at the end of July 2024. Currently, it has drilled 985m of tunnel.

Like "Than Toc," TBM "Tao Bao" begins its operation from S9 - Kim Ma Station at a depth of 17.8 meters. The TBM will accelerate to a standard speed of about 10 m/day to reach the next stations.

According to the plan, the total duration from the commencement of the first TBM to the completion of the second TBM is 16 months. Upon reaching Station S12, the TBMs will be dismantled at this station, and the auxiliary equipment system will be pulled back and dismantled at S9 - Kim Ma station.

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Bao, Deputy General Director of FECON, said: "FECON has meticulously prepared all necessary resources, including materials, equipment, technical expertise, and workforce, while also thoroughly reviewing safety and engineering measures to ensure the successful operation of TBM2 in alignment with the project schedule. By focusing resources, FECON hopes to work with all parties to closely follow the tunnel drilling progress, contributing to the project's completion as planned". 

The commissioning of the second TBM robot marks a significant milestone and encouragement for FECON as well as the entire project. 

As a subcontractor directly operating the tunnel drilling by TBM, in addition to the experience accumulated and learned from the Ho Chi Minh City Metro Line 1 Project (Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien), at the Hanoi urban railway pilot project, Nhon - Hanoi station section, FECON subcontractor has technical support from the team of experts from Tunnel Pro, a leading TBM construction unit from Italy and a team of experts from the International Underground Construction Association. 

To ensure adherence to the project timeline, FECON has proactively allocated resources and implemented continuous work schedules, including during holidays and the Lunar New Year. During the recent Tet holiday, FECON’s project management team deployed over 15 engineers and workers, working in three shifts across four teams, to expedite construction progress and keep the project on track.

Up to now, the overall construction progress of Package CP03 – Tunnels and Underground Stations has reached 53.46%. Specifically, the underground access ramp has been completed 75.66%, Station S9 has been completed 50.48%, and the Ventilation shaft has achieved 24.09% completion.

Throughout the construction process, FECON has collaborated closely with experts, the general contractor, and consultants, utilizing a geotechnical monitoring system to ensure monitoring and tracking of ground movement and subsidence.  Tunneling operations are conducted with utmost caution and strict supervision to ensure the safety of existing structures and ensure the quality of the works under construction.

The underground section is expected to be completed by 2027, after which the entire urban railway line No. 3, Nhon - Hanoi Railway Station section will be put into operation, contributing to changing the appearance of urban traffic in the capital, conveniently connecting areas and promoting green and sustainable development.